I purchased 2 round-trip tickets from San Francisco to Paris for less than $800/person

IcelandAir is having a flash sale on tickets from US to Europe, including destinations like Glasgow, London, Paris, Munich, etc. $399/person from Boston to Paris round trip! This is enough to make me salivate.

I then found VirginAmerica tickets from SF to Boston for less than $399/person (non-stop, round trip). I actually shaved more off the total by leaving on Friday instead of Saturday.

I have never been to Europe and told my wife we're doing a wine and food tour of Italy. Paris gets us close! We may not make it out of France but it's a chance of a lifetime for someone who has never been to Europe.

I am not a travel wizard, and perhaps someone can present the case for getting even better deals, but I felt this was a frugal travel expense that can't be missed! I'm actually quite proud I never pulled the trigger on a $1500+ dollar round trip ticket to Europe.